might as well

せっかくだからする、したほうがましだ

しない理由があまりないので、ある行動を受け入れたり勧めたりすること。

やさしい英語で： You accept or suggest an action because there is little reason not to do it.

• We might as well stay here.
• Since you are awake, you might as well help me.
• There is nothing else to do, so I might as well read.

使い方： might as well + verb (We might as well walk while we wait.)

類義語： may as well

よく使う表現： might as well stay, might as well try

するのと同じだ

ある行動が、より極端な別の行動とほぼ同じ効果を持つこと。

やさしい英語で： One action would have much the same effect as another, often more extreme action.

• You might as well talk to a wall.
• With those fees, we might as well throw our money away.
• If nobody listens, I might as well stay silent.

使い方： might as well + verb (Asking him for help? You might as well ask a stone.)

よく使う表現： might as well shout, might as well quit

してもよい、せっかくだからする

しない理由がないので、してもよい、またはするのが妥当であること。

やさしい英語で： Doing something is acceptable or sensible because there is no reason not to do it.

• You might as well come with us.
• The meeting is over, so we might as well go home.
• There is a spare seat; you might as well sit down.

使い方： might as well + verb (Your work is finished, so you might as well leave.)

類義語： may as well

よく使う表現： might as well leave, might as well join

同然である

実際にはそうでなくても、結果や影響がほぼ同じであること。

やさしい英語で： Something is not actually true, but the real situation has almost the same effect.

• This tiny room might as well be a cupboard.
• He ignored us so completely that we might as well have been invisible.
• Without a signal, my phone might as well be a brick.

使い方： might as well be something (With no visitors, the museum might as well be closed.); might as well have been something (The road was so wet it might as well have been a river.)

よく使う表現： might as well be, might as well have